DHQ Prioritises Welfare Of Personnel – Gen Uba

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has pledged continued commitment to the welfare of its personnel in line with the command philosophy of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Olufemi Oluyede which is anchored on leadership, sound administration, professionalism, discipline, innovation, and accountability.

The Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba stated this while explaining the reason behind the delayed payment of allowances to Nigerian troops deployed on international operations in Sudan, The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau despite completing their missions and returning home.

According to him, the Defence Headquarters places a very high premium on the welfare of personnel.
He gave the explanation while responding to online reports not LEADERSHIP alleging that some Nigerian soldiers who recently returned from foreign peacekeeping missions had yet to receive their full allowances.

He said the payments to the personnel are made after funds are received from the organisations leading the respective missions.

Uba confirmed that Nigerian troops are participating in operations in the three countries, explaining that the Sudan mission is United Nations-led, while the operations in The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau are led by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

He said “Nigerian troops truly participate in operations in Sudan, Guinea Bissau and Gambia. While the operation in Sudan is a United Nations-led operation, the operations in Gambia and Guinea Bissau are ECOWAS-led operations,”

He explained further that troops are continuously inducted into and withdrawn from the missions, while the United Nations and ECOWAS are responsible for paying operational allowances to personnel participating in their respective operations.

“Funding for the payment of these allowances is the exclusive responsibility of the two international organisations and not Nigeria as a nation,” he said.